Pakistan showed limited focus in Kartarpur talks: Sources

Mar 17, 2019 (2 months ago) | IANS

New Delhi, March 16 : Pakistan showed narrow, limited focus during the talks on the modalities of the Kartarpur corridor on Thursday, informed sources said here on Saturday and noted that this was contrary to the perception that Islamabad had sought to create about having a very generous approach in the issue.

The sources said Pakistan's perceived generosity was not matched and the neighbouring country wanted to introduce a permit system along with a fee.

Officials from India and Pakistan held discussions on the Kartarpur corridor on Thursday, which will enable pilgrims from India to travel to the Sikh shrine inside Pakistan through a dedicated corridor which will link Gurudwara Darbar Sahib with Gurdaspur district in Punjab.

The sources said India has also conveyed its concern over the plans by some Sikh groups outside the country to organise a convention in Pakistan to draw support for "Referendum 2020".

They said the noise was being made by a very miniscule part of the Sikh community staying abroad and it was not the view of the entire Sikh community. They said it had also been conveyed that the demand for referendum was normally made by the citizens of a country and not by those of another country and it will amount to interference in India's internal affairs.

During the talks, Pakistan insisted that only 500 Indians will be allowed visa-free access to the shrine in a day while India sought access for 5,000 pilgrims.